Sept 28 (Reuters) – Uzbekistan’s Emergency Situations Ministry (FVV) said on Thursday that a fire caused by a powerful explosion at a warehouse near Tashkent’s airport has been contained and the situation is under control.
The cause of the explosion was unclear, with a report of “strong lightning” and no reports of injuries or deaths. The ministry said a “special laboratory” had been set up at the scene to investigate the explosion.
“As a result of the quick actions of the FVV staff, the area of the fire is being reduced,” the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. “The situation is completely under control”.
Video and photos on social media showed flames and a huge cloud of smoke in the night sky.
Flights appeared to be taking off and landing at Tashkent International Airport as usual, data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.
A notice to aircrew issued at 2215 GMT on Wednesday said one runway at the airport would be closed to take-offs and landings between 0200 GMT and 0700 GMT on Thursday, but a section would be available for taxiing. No reason was given.
According to a social media post by Uzbek media outlet Dario, 16 fire and rescue teams were dispatched to put out the fire at a warehouse located in the city’s Serkely district near the airport.
Akansha Khushi reports in Bangalore; Written by Michael Perry; Editing by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed and Lincoln Feist.
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